The Microsoft DirectDraw Surface (.dds) file format is used to store textures and cubic environment maps, both with and without mipmap levels. This format can store uncompressed and compressed formats, and is the preferred file format for storing DXTn compressed data. This format was introduced with DirectX 7.0. In DirectX 8.0, support for volume textures was added. Many new games use DDS files to store their textures. More information on DDS files can be found in DirectX SDK documentation.

Imaging supports loading and saving of all three types of DDS files - standard textures, cube maps and volume textures. Each of these types can be with or without mipmaps and compressed with DXTC. Pixel formats of DDS files supported by Imaging can be found in the table below.

When working with DDS files you can find useful some options which can be set by SetOption function and their current values can be get by GetOption function. Or you can set them by modifying properties of TDDSFileFormat class. Options are divided into two groups - loading options and saving options. Loading options have prefix ImagingDDSLoaded and they store some properties of the last loaded DDS file. You can use saving options with prefix ImagingDDSSave to tell Imaging how to save the next DDS file (save settings persist until they are changed by SetOption call) - ordinary texture or volume texture with mipmaps or other? You can learn how to use these options and how to load and save DDS files in Loading and Saving DDS Files section.